Cattle-stanchion.



W. F. JACOBS.

CATTLE STANOHION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12,1912.

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WILLIAIVI F. JACOBS, OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. E. PORTER COMPANY, OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CATTLE-STANCHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914:.

Application filed July 12, 1912. Serial No. 708,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ottawa, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gattle-Stanchions; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for supporting and attaching a two-part cattle stanchion in a stall.

The invention has for one of its primary objects, to so construct and mount the supporting and attaching devices for the stanchion, that the latter may be moved or adjusted in a direction toward or from either end of the stall, or, in other words, may be moved or adjusted horizontally to either side of a vertical plane passing through the points of support and attachment of the stanchion and at right angles to the plane of the two parts of the stanchion, so that either a long or short cow may be held by the stanchion in the proper position in the stall.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims- In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure l is a view in front elevation of a stanchion of the type that is supported in a stall, showing the supporting and attaching devices for the same constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same parts shown in Fig. 1, taken in a plane indicated by the broken line 22 of said figure; Fig. 3 is a View representing an en larged horizontal section taken in a plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1, the full lines showing the attaching devices for the stanchion in one position and the dotted lines in another or adjusted position; Fig. 4

- is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the stanchion in one of the adjusted positions corresponding with that indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view representing an enlarged vertical section of the lower ends of the side members or bars of the stanchion, showing in section the hinge for connecting the same.

Referring to the drawings, illustratmg 1n detail one of the preferred forms of my invention, the same is shown as arranged for supporting from the top and attaching to the bottom of a stall the stanchion A. The stanchion may be of any desired type that is supported in a stall, but as shown, said stanchion A comprises two connected oppositely facing, vertically arranged upright bars or side members B, 0, having thelr upper and lower ends bent or curved inwardly toward each other. Said bars B, C are con nected at their lower ends by a hinge ofany preferred construction and are provided at their upper ends with a detachable connection, preferably in the form of a snap latch. As shown in the drawings, the hinged connection for the bars B, C comprises two castings b, c, the former being rigidly secured to the lower end of the bar B, and the latter to the corresponding end of the bar C. Said casting b is provided with an eye at its free end, which is adapted to enter between the .arms of a yoke 0 provided on the similar end of the casting c, the two being connected by a pivot bolt Z2. As shown, the yoke o of the casting c is provided with an outwardly projecting lug or finger a forming an extension of the casting and adapted to strike the lower end of the bar B when the bar G is swung about the pivot bolt 7). By this construction, the bars B, C are prevented from being swung or moved away from each other farther than necessary to permit the head of the animal to pass between them.

As shown in the drawings, the snap latch construction, constituting the detachable connection for the upper ends of the bars B, C of the stanchion, comprises a casting b rigidly secured to the upper end of the bar B and provided with a yoke 12 which is in alinement with, and projects beyond the end of the bar B. As shown, the forward end of said yoke Z2 is arched or curved upwardly so that the upper end of the bar C may enfor between its arms when swung toward the bar B. The bar C is provided with an upright lug at its upper end, said lug being adapted to enter within a suitable aperture provided therefor in the end of a springpressed locking latch b pivoted to an upright forked member 6 secured on the upper end of the bar B. Said locking latch 11* is provided with a finger piece or lever 79 so that the same may be depressed for releasing the bars B, C. Said bars B, O, are made of channel steel or other suitable metal and are preferably U-shaped in cross-section. Said bars are assembled with their rounded or curved parts facing each other, so that there are no sharp corners or angles presented to do injury to the neck of the animal when held between them.

' Now referring to the devices for supporting the stanchion in a vertical or upright position in the stall and permitting its adjust ment in a horizontal direction toward or from the entrance or open end of the stall, the same constituting the subject-matter of the present invention, said devices may be spoken of as in two sets, an upper and a lower set, the former attached to the ceiling, top rail or overhead support in the stall preferably at the manger end of the same and from which the stanchion is hung or suspended, and the latter secured to the floor or bottom railof the stall in line with the upper set and to which the lower end of the stanchion is attached. As shown in the drawings, both the upper and'lower sets each comprises two metallic attaching plates or supporting members of which D, D is the upper and E, E is the lower set, both plates of each set being substantially alike in form and construction. The plates D, D of the upper set are at-' tached to a horizontally arranged rail or tubular bar F, forming the upper or overhead rail of the stall, by fastening members G, G, one for each upper plate D, D. Said fastening members G, G are preferably in the form of split collars which substantially encircle the overhead rail F, and are provided with upright ears or lugs g, g at their split ends, through which extend clamping bolts 9,

By this construction, the collars G, G are clamped on the rail F in horizontally spaced relation to each other. Each plate D, D and E, E, respectively, of each set, is'provided with a slot 6, extending substantially the full length of the same. A bolt cl, (5 projects through the slot 0 in each of the upper plates D, D, and a bolt 6', 6 projects through the slot am the lower plates E, E. The heads of the upper bolts cl, d are connected with the collars G, G, opposite their split ends, and the lower ends of said bolts extend downward, and are screw-threaded for the application ,of the clamp nuts (Z (Z Said lower bolts 6, e are adapted to be anchored at their lower ends in the floor of the stall or secured to the bottom rail of the same in any suitable manner and have clamping nuts 6 e screw-threaded on their upper or outer ends. Said lower bolts 6, e are in vertical alinement with the upper bolts cl, cl and horizontally spaced apart the same distance. The face of each plate D, D and E, E of each set, at the sides of the slot 6 therein is serrated or provided with transverse ribs, (Z in the upper plates and e in the lower plates. Said ribs on each plate of the upper set are adapted to be engaged by complementary ribs on the adjacent face of a washer (1 on each upper bolt (1, cl and the ribs on each plate of the lower set by a similar washer c on each of the lower bolts 6. 6. By this construction, the plates D, D and E, E of each set are prevented from slipping or moving longitudinally when clamped in position. Said plates D, D and E, E of each set are connected at their adjacent ends by relatively short plates or link members J in the upper and lower sets, re spectively, said link member J being pivotally secured to the plates by means of pivot pins j. The stanchion A is suspended from said upper link member J by means of a flexible member or stanchion chain L, the upper end of which is attached between the arms of the forked member y" by a bolt f passing through the same. Said forked member j" has swiveled connection with the upper link member J intermediate the ends of the latter and depends therefrom. The

lower end of said stanchion chain L is connected to the upper end of the stanchion A.

. by a bolt Z passing through its lower end and through the upper end of the forked mem-' her 6 between the arms of which said lower end is located.

As shown in the drawings, the lower end of the stanchion A is attached to the lower link member J by a lower stanchion chain point of suspension and attachment to the upper and lower link members J, thus permitting the animal having its neck held between the side bars of the stanchion to turn its head from side to side. \Vhereas, by reason of the lower stanchion chain L, the

lower end ofthe stanchion is connected with the floor of the stall and the animal is prevented from moving it out of its verticalposition.

In use, the stanchion A is supported in a vertical or upright position in the stall, preferably at the inner or manger end thereof, by means of the devices above described and clearly shown in the drawings. When the stanchion A. is in the position shown in. Figs. 1 and 2, it is in its normal or customary position, that is, it isin alinement with the upper and lower set of supporting and fastening plates D, D and E, E. By loosening the nuts (Z (Z on the upper bolts cZ,cZ, and the nuts 6 0 on the lower bolts 6, e, the plates D, D and E, E, of both sets, by

'3 vertical plane.

reason of the slots therein, may be moved or adjusted relatively to said bolts. Moving the plates D, D and E, E of each set in the same direction carries with them the upper and lower link members J, and the stanchion A being connected to said link members, said stanchion is accordingly moved in a like direction. By moving or adjusting the plates D, D and E, E of each set so as to shift their inner ends in a direction toward the entrance or open end of the stall, the stanchion may be moved or adjusted in a like direction. After moving or adjusting the stanchion A in the direction above referred to, the desired distance, the same may be clamped in its adjusted position by tightening the nuts on each set of bolts. One adjusted position of the stanchion A is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. 41 The stanchion, as above described and shown, is in a position which it would occupy after being adj usted in a direction toward the entrance or open end of the stall, or in other words, moved in a horizontal direction to one side of a vertical plane passing through the two side bars or members of the stanchion, but it is obvious, that by loosening the nuts on the bolts and swinging the inner ends of the plates D, D and E, E, of both sets about said bolts, said plates may be moved in an opposite direction and occupy a position opposite to that shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 8, or on the opposite side of the said The stanchion A will then have been adjusted in a direction away from the entrance or open end of the stall.

By reason of the adjustment of the stanchion to either side of its central or intermediate position, a long cow may be lined up in a stall and held in its proper position therein beside a short cow, or vice versa. This is of a decided advantage when milking or feeding the cow. It is well known that a cow having a body of greater length than the average, will line herself up in a proper position beside a relatively short or small cow and remain in her place when there is feed for her, but if there is no feed, the animals will not stay in their proper places.

When milking, it is desirable that the milker have all the room possible and this is afforded by sitting at the open or entrance end of the stall. With a stanchion rigidly fixed at the manger end of the stall, as heretofore constructed and with a short or small cow hold therein, the said cow having a body of short length will be in the forward part of the stall and not easily accessible to the milker sitting at the entrance or open end of the same. By providing for the adjustability of the stanchion as herein described, the stanchion may be adjusted toward the entrance end of the stall and the short cow will be held in the stall in a convenient position for the milker. ()n the other hand, should it be a long cow that is to be milked, the stanchion may be adjusted in an opposite direction or away from the inner or entrance end of the stall and when the cow is held therein she will be in a proper position for the inilker. Furthermore, by reason of the adjustment of the stanchion as above described, the animal may be held in the stall in its proper position in relation to the gutter at the entrance or open end of the stall. It is obvious, that in a stable or barn where the stalls are arranged side by side, and with a stanchion therein capable of adjustment as hereinbefore described, no matter how the body lengths of the several animals may vary, each animal may be held in the stall, (the stanchion having been adjusted to suit its particular animal) in proper position with respect to the gutter. Thus the sanitary condition, of not only each stall is improved, but the sanitary condition of the stable as a whole is enhanced.

The bars, B, C of the stanchion are made long enough to extend from a point near the upper or overhead rail of the stall to a point close to the floor of the stall, so that, the animal held by the stanchion is permitted to lie down with comfort in the stall without releasing its head from the stanchion.

As shown in the drawings, and especially in Fig. 5 thereof, the casting b, as hereinbefore stated, is rigidly secured to the lower end of the side member or bar B of the stanchion and constitutes one of the members of the hinge for connecting the lower end of said bar B with the corresponding end of the bar C. Said casting is provided, above the eye therein, with an integral part or lug b Said lug 6 projects laterally from the said casting b and the lower inclined part of the bar B to which said casting Z) is attached. Said lug 6 projects to such a distance from the pivot bolt Z) that when the side members or bars B, C are being closed, that is, when the upper end of the bar C is being moved toward the bar B in closing the stanchion, the lug b will come into contact with the adjacent or inner edge of the yoke 0 of the casting c, which is rigidly secured to the bar C at its lower end, before the upper ends of said bars B, C come together. By reason of the construction above described, when the upper ends of the bars B, C are locked together, the elasticity of the bars themselves will tend to spring them apart. It follows, therefore, that as soon as the finger piece or lever b of the latch construction at the upper ends of bars B, G is depressed, to unlock the bars, said bars will immediately spring apart, thus avoiding the necessity of grasping the bars to swing them apart in &

B, C of each stanchion will immediately swing open. It is obvious from the above, that the stanchions thus made are more readily and quickly opened than in the case of a stanchion so made that two hands are required to open it, as heretofore.

While I have shown and described herein certain mechanical details of construction and arrangement of the several parts of the preferred form of my device illustrated, it is to be understood that these may be changed and variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not wish to be limited to the construction and arrangement shown therein, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, in combination with a cattle-stanchion, a support for said stanchion, a pair of plates adapted to be secured to said support, means for adjustably'securing each plate to said support, a link member extending between and pivotally connected at its ends with the adjacent ends of said plates, said link member spacing and maintaining apart the adjacent ends of said plates, and means providing connection of said stanchion with said link member independent of the means connecting the link member with the ends of said plates.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination with a cattle-stanchion, a support for said stanchion, a pair of attaching members, each provided with a longitudinally arranged slot, fastening members, one for each attaching member, secured to said support, a bolt extending through the slot in each attaching member and adapted for adjustably securing each member to its respective fastening member, a link member extending between and connected at its ends with the adjacent ends of said attaching members, said link member spacing and maintaining apart the ends of the attaching members with which said link member is connected, and means providing connection of said stanchion with said link member independent of the means connecting the link member with the ends of the attaching members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this 8th day of July, A. 1)., 1912.

WILLIAM F. JACOBS.

- Witnesses: I

VVILLIAM GEBI-IARD, MARIAN TILLMAN.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G. 

